Italian coastal towns warn of rising Ostreopsis algae levels

The mayor of Molfetta, Manuel Minervini, urged residents, especially the elderly, children and people with respiratory conditions, to avoid beaches and cliffs exposed to wind and waves after monitoring by ARPA Puglia showed Ostreopsis ovata concentrations slightly above normal. He advised leaving the shore if symptoms such as cough, sneezing, eye irritation or mild fever appear, noting that symptoms usually subside after moving a short distance inland.

In Vergine Maria, Sicily, the local authority announced that the algae alert has ended as new ARPA measurements recorded concentrations below the alert threshold. While no swimming ban was imposed, officials continued to recommend precautionary behavior and ongoing monitoring of water quality.